|
Whiskey Before Breakfast | 
 enlarge | Artist: Norman Blake
Label: Rounder Select
Category: Music
Buy New: $16.98
New (31) Used (7) from $10.72
Rating:  15 reviews
Sales Rank: 32411
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 5 x 0.5
MPN: 63
UPC: 011661006324
EAN: 0011661006324
ASIN: B0000002D4
Release Date: October 27, 1994
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
| |
| Tracks:
| • | Hand Me Down My Walking Cane - Norman Blake, | | • | Under the Double Eagle | | • | Six White Horses | | • | Salt River - Norman Blake, | | • | Old Grey Mine | | • | Down at Milow's House - Norman Blake, Blake, Norman [1] | | • | Sleepy Eyed Joe/Indian Creek | | • | Arkansas Traveler | | • | The Girl I Left in Sunny Tennessee | | • | The Minstrel Boy to the War Has Gone/The Ash Grove - Norman Blake, | | • | Church Street Blues - Norman Blake, Blake, Norman [1] | | • | Macon Rag - Norman Blake, Blake, Norman [1] | | • | Fiddler's Dram/Whiskey Before Breakfast | | • | Slow Train Through Georgia - Norman Blake, Blake, Norman [1] |
|
| Similar Items:
|
| Editorial Reviews:
Album Description
The first album to feature the virtuoso acoustic guitar playing of Norman Blake has come to be regarded as a true classic. Accompanied by second guitarist Charlie Collins, Norman offers definitive guitar performances of many old-time and bluegrass tunes, as well as several tradition-rooted originals. Whiskey Before Breakfast is a cornerstone of bluegrass and guitar record collections everywhere.
|
| Customer Reviews: Read 10 more reviews...
A musical gem September 2, 2008
A true Norman Blake musical gem. If you are into the screamers, the slice them and dice them or the head bangers deluxe... this is not the album for you. If you enjoy great acoustic melody with lyrics that you can understand and appreciate .. look no further.
Music for the soul! July 25, 2008
I have owned a vinyl copy of this album since 1974. The other day picked up my old frayed friend, pulled the vinyl disk out of the sleeve after not hearing it for a few year and realized that is was worn beyond redemption. I needed a replacement. Over the years, I played at playing the guitar (along with dulcimer, banjo and fiddle)since college. For awhile I could actually keep up with Norman on Under the Double Eagle for about the first 67 seconds then would lose him. Players might say Doc, or Jimmy H, or even Chet were the best players of all time but in my book it is Norman. He makes a guitar sing!
10 Stars If You Had 'Em January 26, 2007
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
A lot of Blake fans consider "Live At McCabes" their favorite but, as good as the playing is there, for me the live guitar sound lacks warmth and "woodiness". "Whiskey Before Breakfast" is what a big old Martin steel string should sound like.
Norman doesn't play too much of this "fast stuff" anymore, but his lines still have a driving forward motion to them that make even the fastest tunes here, like "Salt Creek", sound relaxed and effortless. I always wished he'd do a fingerpicking record as I think he's underrated in that regard. "Down At Milow's House" has a parlor-classical poise to it that almost reminds me of John Renbourn. I was familiar with his duet with Bromberg on "Arkansas Traveller" first before hearing this solo version.
The overall technique of younger players and the amount of educational information on flatpicking has exploded since this record came out in the 70's. But for my money, few can touch it for pure soul.
One thing has always intrigued me: In the liner notes Nancy Blake mentions a "ebony nut" among the features of Norman's D-18. However, from the pictures on the sleeve at least, the nut on that guitar sure looks like bone or some white composite rather than ebony. I know they use ebony for violin nuts and I've seen wooden nuts on old bowlback mandolins, but I've never come across a "modern" guitar with one. I wonder if she was referring to the bridge base, which looks like it could be ebony and probably would have some impact on the tone.
the master January 25, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I've owned this CD since high school and listen to it constantly. It was the first Blake recording I bought and I did so without having ever heard him before; I had heard my older guitarist friends say good things about him and chose this one because I was familiar with more of the tunes on it than on the other albums in the rack. This is terrific playing--clean, no-gimmick flatpicking. Absolutely a great album.
it'll make you lay down your guitar. May 17, 2004
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
Remember vinyl LP's?? I wore out two vinyl copies of this album, and I'm one of those compulsive record geeks who cleans records each time, stores them properly, etc.Norman Blake has a feel for traditional music, from the rousing martial-like "Under the Double Eagle" to the gentle "Ash Grove" and "The Minstrel Boy." The only drawback to this album would be if you yourself play guitar. It'll make you weep. ("I'll never be able to do that...") As far as the vocals go, they are absolutely in keeping with the style of the music. (Another reviewer slammed the vocals; hey, Billie Holiday's voice was raspy and annoying at times, but no one would ever say it didn't deliver the goods.)
|
|
|
Copyright 2006 - CD Shopper | |
